THE

SECOND EPISTLE OF ST. PETER THE

APOSTLE.

In this Epistle ST. PETER says, (chap. 3.), Behold
this second Epistle I write to you: and before, (chap 1.14,) Being assured that
the laying away of this my tabernacle is at hand. This shews, that it was
written a very short time before his martyrdom, which was about thirty-five
years after our Lord's Ascension. In this Epistle he admonishes the faithful to
be mindful of the great gifts they received from God, and to join all other
virtues with the faith. He warns against false teachers, by describing their
practices, and foretelling their punishments. He describes the dissolution of
the world by fire, and the day of judgment.

Chapter 1

He exhorts them to join all other virtues with their faith: in order to
secure their salvation.

1 Simon Peter, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have
obtained equal faith with us in the justice of our God and Saviour Jesus
Christ.

2 Grace to you and peace be accomplished in the knowledge of God and of
Christ Jesus our Lord:

3 As all things of his divine power which appertain to life and godliness,
are given us, through the knowledge of him who hath called us by his own proper
glory and virtue.

4 By whom he hath given us most great and precious promises: that by these
you may be made partakers of the divine nature: flying the corruption of that
concupiscence which is in the world.

5 And you, employing all care, minister in your faith, virtue; and in virtue,
knowledge;

6 And in knowledge, abstinence; and in abstinence, patience; and in patience,
godliness;

7 And in godliness, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity.

8 For if these things be with you and abound, they will make you to be
neither empty nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 For he that hath not these things with him, is blind, and groping, having
forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore, brethren, labor the more, that by good works you may make sure
your calling and election. For doing these things, you shall not sin at any
time.

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered to you abundantly into the
everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 For which cause I will begin to put you always in remembrance of these
things: though indeed you know them, and are confirmed in the present truth.

13 But I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by
putting you in remembrance.

14 Being assured that the laying away of this my tabernacle is at hand,
according as our Lord Jesus Christ also hath signified to me.

15 And I will endeavor, that you frequently have after my decease, whereby
you may keep a memory of these things.

16 For we have not by following artificial fables, made known to you the
power, and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we were eyewitnesses of his
greatness.

17 For he received from God the Father, honor and glory: this voice coming
down to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased; hear ye him.

18 And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the
holy mount.

19 And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to
attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the
day star arise in your hearts:

20 Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private
interpretation.

21 For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of
God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost.

Chapter 2

He warns them against false teachers, and foretells their punishment.

1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be
among you lying teachers, who shall bring in sects of perdition, and deny the
Lord who bought them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their riotousnesses, through whom the way of truth
shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of
you. Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their perdition
slumbereth not.

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but delivered them, drawn
down by infernal ropes to the lower hell, unto torments, to be reserved unto
judgment:

5 And spared not the original world, but preserved Noe, the eighth person,
the preacher of justice, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.

6 And reducing the cities of the Sodomites, and of the Gomorrhites, into
ashes, condemned them to be overthrown, making them an example to those that
should after act wickedly.

7 And delivered just Lot, oppressed by the injustice and lewd conversation of
the wicked.

8 For in sight and hearing he was just: dwelling among them, who from day to
day vexed the just soul with unjust works.

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly from temptation, but to reserve
the unjust unto the day of judgment to be tormented.

10 And especially them who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness,
and despise government, audacious, self willed, they fear not to bring in sects,
blaspheming.

11 Whereas angels who are greater in strength and power, bring not against
themselves a railing judgment.

12 But these men, as irrational beasts, naturally tending to the snare and to
destruction, blaspheming those things which they know not, shall perish in their
corruption,

13 Receiving the reward of their injustice, counting for a pleasure the
delights of a day: stains and spots, sporting themselves to excess, rioting in
their feasts with you:

14 Having eyes full of adultery and of sin that ceaseth not: alluring
unstable souls, having their heart exercised with covetousness, children of
malediction:

15 Leaving the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of
Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of iniquity,

16 But had a check of his madness, the dumb beast used to the yoke, which
speaking with man's voice, forbade the folly of the prophet.

17 These are fountains without water, and clouds tossed with whirlwinds, to
whom the mist of darkness is reserved.

18 For, speaking proud words of vanity, they allure by the desires of fleshly
riotousness, those who for a little while escape, such as converse in error:

19 Promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves of
corruption. For by whom a man is overcome, of the same also he is the slave.

20 For if, flying from the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they be again entangled in them and overcome:
their latter state is become unto them worse than the former.

21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice, than
after they have known it, to turn back from that holy commandment which was
delivered to them.

22 For, that of the true proverb has happened to them: The dog is returned to
his vomit: and, The sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

Chapter 3

Against scoffers denying the second coming of Christ. He declares the
sudden dissolution of this world, and exhorts holiness of life.

1 Behold this second epistle I write to you, my dearly beloved, in which I
stir up by way of admonition your sincere mind:

2 That you may be mindful of those words which I told you before from the
holy prophets, and of your apostles, of the precepts of the Lord and Saviour.

3 Knowing this first, that in the last days there shall come deceitful
scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

4 Saying: Where is his promise or his coming? for since the time that the
fathers slept, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the
creation.

5 For this they are willfully ignorant of, that the heavens were before, and
the earth out of water, and through water, consisting by the word of God.

6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.

7 But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in
store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of the
ungodly men.

8 But of this one thing be not ignorant, my beloved, that one day with the
Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord delayeth not his promise, as some imagine, but dealeth patiently
for your sake, not willing that any should perish, but that all should return to
penance.

10 But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in which the heavens shall
pass away with great violence, and the elements shall be melted with heat, and
the earth and the works which are in it, shall be burnt up.

11 Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, what manner of
people ought you to be in holy conversation and godliness?

12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord, by which
the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with
the burning heat?

13 But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to his promises, in
which justice dwelleth.

14 Wherefore, dearly beloved, waiting for these things, be diligent that you
may be found before him unspotted and blameless in peace.

15 And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also our most
dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you:

16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which
are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable
wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

17 You therefore, brethren, knowing these things before, take heed, lest
being led aside by the error of the unwise, you fall from your own
steadfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of eternity. Amen.